How to make Spiders (Ice-Cream Soda)

If you’re ever going to make a super simple yet impressive dessert, that satisfies both kids and adults alike – make a spider (also known as ice-cream soda and soda float). The only noise we hear at the table when spiders have been served (after the initial ooo’s and ahhh’s) is the tinking sound of spoons hitting the glass and slurping through straws.

I learned the craft of making spiders when I worked at Johnny Rockets (now called Soda Rock) in South Yarra. There was a particular method in making these, to make sure they were well presented. Sure it’s easy to plop a ball of ice-cream into a glass of soda, watch it fizz over and mix up into a creamy mess – but it’s just that, a mess to look at.

There’s an art to the layering of a spider, and you can create any flavour/colour combination you can think of (or be brave to try!)

Now, I’m not sure if I made up the addition of adding flavoured syrups to the spider, or if it was something that only us staff members were experimenting with – but it’s an addition worth keeping, both for extra flavour and colour.

1. Pour about 2cm of soda into the glass.
2. Scoop a large ball of ice-cream into the glass, big enough so it sits on the edges and doesn’t slip down into the base layer of soda. Ideally, you will have a 1-2cm layer of air in between the soda and the ice-cream.
3. Pour the syrup around the edges, just enough so you can see the syrup as a thin layer.
4. Top with more soda, but be careful not to fill to the top too quickly, otherwise it will overflow like a volcano!

I’m a kiwi and mum used to make us spiders when we were kids…but then she did live in Australia for a while, no one I know of in NZ calls them spiders. Wonderful bit of nostalgia that I’m tempted to revisit, thanks!

Hi,
Ice Cream Sodas are a Kiwi icon from way back and have always been made with syrup.
Spiders on the other hand are also classic Kiwi fare and have to my knowledge always been made with Coke and Vanilla Ice Cream. Thats how all the restaurants sold them anyway and I never found anywhere other than restaurants ( mostly Cobb & Co) that served Spiders but Ice Cream Sodas were mainly sold at dairys and the odd Ice Cream Palour ( I discovered them at a German one, a very vivid childhood memory lol).
Just in case you’re interested lol
Have a fantastic day and thanks for the article, some amazing Sodas ( that we have already tried and love)
Cheers